Method and apparatus for creating a catalog for an on-line charitable auction or fund raising event
The present invention discloses methods, systems, and program code that enable a nonprofit organization to manage its fundraising activities online. Disclosed are methods and systems for providing online hosting of fundraising auctions, and auction services such as maintaining donor/bidder registries, bid tracking, processing credit cards, and auction closeout activities. Also disclosed are a plurality of on-line, web-based tools, including tools for: 1) building a customized homepage reflecting the look and feel of the nonprofit organization; 2) building a customized catalog that allows for easy addition of items and pictures; and 3) enhanced email messaging that lets a nonprofit organization reach its constituents. According to one aspect of the invention, a nonprofit organization may request their constituents to donate items for an auction catalog, through either an email with an embedded link or icon that leads to a catalog item entry web page. The data describing the donated items are reviewed and edited, and, upon approval, added to the database associated with the auction and published in the auction catalog. Optionally, the constituent can assign the item to a particular participant, cause, chapter, or organization for credit. According to another aspect of the invention, a donor may view all items currently donated to an auction or to multiple auctions along with the current status of each donated item on a personal web page.
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This application claims priority to two commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Applications, the subject matter of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, including the following:
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/507,457, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AND CONDUCTING ON-LINE CHARITABLE FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES, filed Sep. 30, 2003 by inventors Gregory C. McHale and Carl Maib; and
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/561,101, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AND CONDUCTING ON-LINE CHARITABLE FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES WITH COMPETITIVE EVENTS, filed Apr. 9, 2004 by inventors Gregory C. McHale and Carl Maib.
In addition, this application is one of a plurality of US utility applications filed on even date herewith and commonly assigned, the subject matters of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, including the following:
U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AND CONDUCTING ON-LINE CHARITABLE FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES by inventors Gregory C. McHale and Carl Maib, attorney docket number C0017/7000; and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled METHOD AND APPRATUS FOR COMBINIGN ITEMS IN AN ON-LINE CHARITABLE AUCTION OR FUND RAISING EVENT by inventors Gregory C. McHale and Carl Maib, attorney docket number C0017/7002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to on line charitable fund raising events, such as on-line auctions, and the system and techniques for facilitating the creation and execution of such activities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPublicly accessible wide area networks (WANs), such as the Internet and the World Wide Web, have transformed the manner in which transactions occur. Such transactions include not only business transactions but other activities, such as on-line auctions and charitable fund solicitation and giving. On-line auctions, such as those facilitated by eBay, provide venues for buyers and sellers to transact business in a complex, global virtual marketplace. Charities and not for profit organizations have also tapped the vast market potential of the Internet to reach a wider audience of potential donors. Specifically, web sites such as ePhilanthropyFoundation.com exist to foster the ethical and efficient use of the Internet for philanthropic purposes. Indeed, many charitable organizations allow on line users to donate money directly through a web site to the organization. However, many of the same charitable organizations continue to rely on traditional fundraising events such as telethons and walkathons to raise money at the local community level, without any significant assistance or interaction with on line tools or the local online community.
Accordingly, the need exist for charitable organizations and not for profit entities to increase their presence in the global and local on-line marketplace and for techniques to enable fundraising events to combine and integrate various aspects of more traditional events.
A further need exists for the ability to rapidly facilitate the creation of an on-line auction, including the requesting and solicitation of donated items or services, the approval of such items and the conduction of the on-line auction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention discloses methods, systems, and program code that enable a nonprofit organization to manage its fundraising activities online. The inventive system provides online hosting of fundraising auctions, and auction services such as maintaining donor/bidder registries, bid tracking, processing credit cards, and auction closeout activities. Also disclosed are a plurality of on-line, web-based tools, including tools for: 1) building a customized homepage reflecting the look and feel of the nonprofit organization; 2) building a customized catalog that allows for easy addition of items and pictures; and 3) enhanced email messaging that lets a nonprofit organization reach its constituents. The subject invention provides the tools and facilities for a nonprofit or charitable entity to create either a live or virtual auction event, compile lists of potential donor/bidder participants, create a catalog from donated items, combine individual donated items into aggregate item offerings, and facilitate on line viewing and bidding of the published catalog items in a manner that is efficient and capable of reaching the vast potential of the virtual online community for a particular cause.
According to the invention, a system, computer program and method enable a nonprofit to request that their constituency, either via an email with an embedded link or through an embedded icon on a web page, donate items for an auction. The link embedded in the email or the embedded icon on the web page leads to a catalog item entry web page. If enabled by the charitable organization, the constituent can assign the item to a particular participant, cause, chapter, or organization for credit. Pending donated items are reviewed by auction committee members or others authorized individuals. Committee members can either accept, edit or reject pending the donated items. When a committee member approves an item an automatic email notification is sent to the donating party. When a committee member edits an item an automatic email notification may be generated and sent to the donating party with the changes highlighted. Similarly, when a committee member rejects an item an automatic email is generated and sent to the donor with the reason for the disapproval. Upon approval, the item is added to the auction database and published to a database-served auction catalog based upon the ‘born on’ date or, if a ‘born on’ date is not present, the item may be published immediately. Donors can view a ‘personal page’ that lists the items that they have donated and their current status as pending, accepted, rejected, and, if already accepted and in the auction process, the current bid status. When an item is sold an automatic email may be generated and sent to the donor with an IRS-acceptable donation receipt (electronic) attached.
According to a first aspect of the invention, in a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, a method comprises: (A) maintaining an online accessible user-interface to a memory associated with a charitable auction; (B) receiving data describing an item to be donated through the online accessible user-interface; and (C) generating and sending a communication to a donor from which the data describing the item was received. In one embodiment, data describing a plurality of items donated to the charitable auction is maintained in a memory pending review thereof. In the various embodiments, the data describing the item is added to a database associated with the charitable auction and published in an auction catalog associated with the charitable auction. In yet other embodiments, a link to an online accessible user-interface of memory associated with the charitable auction may be provided either through an electronic mail communication or from a network accessible web page.
According to second and third aspects of the invention, a computer program product and computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, respectively, both for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having embodied therein program code comprising: (A) program code for maintaining an online accessible user-interface to a memory associated with a charitable auction; (B) program code for receiving data describing an item to be donated through the online accessible user-interface; and (C) program code for generating and sending a communication to a donor from which the data describing the item was received.
According to a fourth aspects of the invention, in a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, an apparatus comprising: (A) program logic for maintaining an online accessible user-interface to a memory associated with a charitable auction; (B) program logic for receiving data describing an item to be donated through the online accessible user-interface; and (C) program logic for generating and sending a communication to a donor from which the data describing the auction item was received.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in a computer usable memory, a data structure for tracking an item in a catalog associated with a charitable auction, the data structure comprises: (A) data identifying an item donated to the charitable auction; (B) data identifying the donor of the item; (C) data identifying the charitable auction with which the item is associated; and (D) data identifying a status state of the item in relation to the charitable auction. In the various embodiments, the data structure further comprises data identifying at least one entity to which credit for a value of the item will be given and the fair market value of the item donated.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, a method comprises: (A) maintaining, in a memory associated with a charitable auction, data describing at least one item donated by a donor; (B) maintaining, in the memory associated with the charitable auction, data describing a status state associated with the at least one item donated by the donor; and (C) upon request of the donor, displaying data describing all items donated by the donor to the charitable auction and any data describing status state associated therewith. In one embodiment, data describing all items donated by the donor to a plurality of online charitable auctions, and any data describing status state associated with each item donated, is displayed upon request of the donor.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, a computer program product and computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, respectively, both for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having embodied therein program code comprising: (A) program code for maintaining, in a memory associated with the charitable auction, data describing at least one item donated by a donor; (B) program code for maintaining, in the memory associated with the charitable auction, data describing a status state associated with the at least one item donated by the donor; and (C) program code for displaying, upon request of the donor, data describing all items donated by the first donor to the charitable auction and any data describing status state associated therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe above and further advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 6A-C are screen captures of the graphic user interface of the inventive system in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 7A-B are a flow diagram of the processes utilized in the inventive system for scheduling events in accordance with present invention;
FIGS. 8A-E are screen captures of the graphic user interface of the inventive system in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 9A-C are screen captures of the graphic user interface of the inventive system in accordance with the present invention;
The computer system 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 105, which may include a conventional microprocessor, a random access memory (RAM) 110 for temporary storage of information, and a read only memory (ROM) 115 for permanent storage of information. A memory controller 120 is provided for controlling system RAM 110. A bus controller 125 is provided for controlling bus 130, and an interrupt controller 135 is used for receiving and processing various interrupt signals from the other system components. Mass storage may be provided by diskette 142, CD ROM 147 or hard drive 152. Data and software may be exchanged with computer system 100 via removable media such as diskette 142 and CD ROM 147. Diskette 142 is insertable into diskette drive 141 which is, in turn, connected to bus 130 by a controller 140. Similarly, CD ROM 147 is insertable into CD ROM drive 146 which is connected to bus 130 by controller 145. Hard disk 152 is part of a fixed disk drive 151 which is connected to bus 130 by controller 150.
User input to computer system 100 may be provided by a number of devices. For example, a keyboard 156 and mouse 157 are connected to bus 130 by controller 155. An audio transducer 196, which may act as both a microphone and a speaker, is connected to bus 130 by audio controller 197, as illustrated. It will be obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art that other input devices such as a pen and/or tablet and a microphone for voice input may be connected to computer system 100 through bus 130 and an appropriate controller/software. DMA controller 160 is provided for performing direct memory access to system RAM 110. A visual display is generated by video controller 165 which controls video display 170. In the illustrative embodiment, the user interface of a computer system may comprise a video display and any accompanying graphic use interface presented thereon by an application or the operating system, in addition to or in combination with any keyboard, pointing device, joystick, voice recognition system, speakers, microphone or any other mechanism through which the user may interact with the computer system.
Computer system 100 also includes a communications adapter 190 which allows the system to be interconnected to a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), schematically illustrated by bus 191 and network 195.
Computer system 100 is generally controlled and coordinated by operating system software, such as the WINDOWS NT, WINDOWS XP or WINDOWS 2000 operating system, available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond Wash. The operating system controls allocation of system resources and performs tasks such as process scheduling, memory management, and networking and I/O services, among other things. In particular, an operating system resident in system memory and running on CPU 105 coordinates the operation of the other elements of computer system 100. The present invention may be implemented with any number of commercially available operating systems including OS/2, AIX, UNIX and LINUX, DOS, etc. One or more applications 220 may execute under control of the operating system. If operating system 210 is a true multitasking operating system, multiple applications may execute simultaneously.
In the illustrative embodiment, the present invention may be implemented using object-oriented technology and an operating system which supports execution of object-oriented programs. For example, the inventive code module may be implemented using the Java programming environment from Sun Microsystems, Redwood, Calif.
The Java programming language is rapidly emerging as the preferred OOP language for Internet and cross platform use because Java programs consist of bytecodes, which are architecture and operating system independent and can be sent over the Internet and other networks. The bytecode is actually executed on a particular platform by means of a “virtual machine” (VM) which allows a Java program to be run on any platform, regardless of whether the Java program was developed on, or for, the particular platform which attempts to run the Java program. Java bytecodes which arrive at the executing machine are interpreted and executed by the embedded VM.
A complete Java program is known as an application, while a segment of Java code, which does not amount to a full application, but is reusable, is referred to as an “applet”. Java also includes a component model where a component is a self-contained object with a predefined interface. A component within Java is referred to as a “bean,” and includes such a defined interface. Java beans are used within applets and applications and a programmer need not know the internal structure of the Java bean to use it, he need only know the interface. Since Java is well-suited to operation over networks, the following description of the illustrative embodiment is directed toward the Java programming language. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention could be implemented for other OOP languages as well, e.g. C++.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) techniques involve the definition, creation, use and destruction of “objects”. These objects are software entities comprising data elements, or attributes, and methods, or functions, which manipulate the data elements. The attributes and related methods are treated by the software as an entity and can be created, used and deleted as if they were a single item. Together, the attributes and methods enable objects to model virtually any real-world entity in terms of its characteristics, which can be represented by the data elements, and its behavior, which can be represented by its data manipulation functions. In this way, objects can model concrete things like people and computers, and they can also model abstract concepts like numbers or geometrical designs.
Objects are defined by creating “classes” which are not objects themselves, but which act as templates that instruct the compiler how to construct the actual object. A class may, for example, specify the number and type of data variables and the steps involved in the methods which manipulate the data. When an object-oriented program is compiled, the class code is compiled into the program, but no objects exist. Therefore, none of the variables or data structures in the compiled program exist or have any memory allotted to them. An object is actually created by the program at runtime by means of a special function called a constructor which uses the corresponding class definition and additional information, such as arguments provided during object creation, to construct the object. Likewise objects are destroyed by a special function called a destructor. Objects may be used by using their data and invoking their functions. When an object is created at runtime memory is allotted and data structures are created.
Network Environment
Referring to
In the illustrative embodiment, auction web server 260 performs the functions of a traditional web server enabling access to one or more web pages by bidder/donor processes 220A-B connected to Internet 205. One or more of the pages accessible on auction web server 260 may contain address information in the form of a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tag which may be downloaded over the Internet 205 to a browser process executing on any of the system 210-240.
In the illustrative embodiment, sponsor web server 230 also may perform the functions of a traditional web server enabling access to one or more web pages by bidder/donor processes 220A-B connected to Internet 205. One or more of the pages accessible on sponsor web server 230 may contain address information in the form of a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tag which may be downloaded over the Internet 205 to a browser process executing on any of the other system in the network.
User/bidder systems 220A-B may be implemented using a computer architecture similar to that illustrated with reference to
Credit server 210 may be implemented using a computer architecture similar to that illustrated with reference to
System Organization
Referring to
Private network 290 may couple auction web server 260 to both an optional electronic mail server (not shown) and to a firewall server (not shown). In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, electronic mail server 288 may be implemented as a server executing an application program in accordance with the Post Office Protocol version 3.0 (POP3), such server capable of receiving and sending electronic mail in a manner understood by those skilled in the arts. In an alternative embodiment, the optional electronic mail server and web server 260 may be implemented with applications which execute on the same computer system. The firewall server may be implemented as a server or network appliance executing any of a number of commercially available network security applications which prevent unauthorized access to private networks in a manner understood by those skilled in the arts. The firewall server is typically connected to Internet 205, via a T1 line, or other connection such as a frame relay connection.
Web Server
Web server 260 may be implemented using a hardware platform similar to that illustrated with reference to
Referring to
Web server 260 retains in memory one or more “pages” which collectively may comprise a web site used to visually present the information on the pages. One or more of the pages accessible on web server 260 may contain address information in the form of a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tag which may be downloaded over the Internet 205 to a browser process executing on any of the other computer systems connected to the network. Such HTML tag may include the IP address or E-mail address associated with the web site.
Upon connection to web server 260, either directly or through a hyperlink from the website of a vendor client, a network user is presented with a graphic user interface. The graphic user interface includes a number of web pages which are resident on web server 260 and through which the network user may navigate. The web pages include a number of menus and dialog boxes which allow the network user to interact with the web server 260. The sample web pages illustrated herein include various highlight options and dialog boxes through which a network user may interact with web server 260.
Web server 260 functions to render pages to a network user connected to the web server 260 and to pass data received from a network user to database through the appropriate Application Program Interfaces (APIs). In the illustrative embodiment, the web server 260 may utilize a plurality of Visual Basic, Java script files and/or Java applets to create active web pages. Web server 260 may include a database interface (not shown) which functions as the interface between web server 260 and database server 270. Such database interface may be implemented via ODBC, Remote Procedure Call libraries or other similar technologies which enables the interface to make remotely access the database server 270 and to service calls received from database server 270.
Data Base Architecture
In the illustrative embodiment, database server 270 and database 280 may comprise a hardware platform and an operating system capable of executing one of a number of commercially available database products. In the illustrative embodiment, hardware platform may be implemented with a computer system similar to that described with reference to
Query engine 274 receives information from web server 260 in the form of a query and supplies the query to database 280. Database server 270 and database 280 may communicate using SQL standard database query language. The SQL standard is published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The database query engine which is integrated into database server filters the queries received from web server 260, such filters useful in focusing or customizing the scope of a database query. The information retrieved from database 280 may be forwarded by database server 270 to web server 260 using any number of know techniques such as remote procedural call libraries, as that previously described.
Application Operating Environment
Referring to
In the illustrative embodiment, end-user applications 400, specialty front end applications 410, business logic applications 420, may execute on auction web server 260, while database applications 430 may execute on database server 270 in conjunction with database 280, as illustrated in
Having described the system hardware, network and logical organization of the inventive system, a description of individual inventive algorithms and techniques is set forth below with respect to the individual flowcharts, conceptual diagrams and graphic user interfaces of the Figures.
Auction/Event Scheduler
According to one aspect of the invention, the auction committee for a charitable client is able to specify a date for either a physical or virtual auction and have the inventive system generate a calendar of future events and dates relevant to the auction. Specifically, a charitable client user enters a date for a physical or virtual auction. Based on the designated date, the inventive system 1) creates a series of tasks, such as auction announcement, auction RSVP, first catalog publication, etc.; 2) suggests dates by which those tasks should be completed; and 3) a series of automatically generated electronic mail are sent notifying the auction committee in advance of the completion date for each task so that action can be taken to send the communications out. With the inventive system 250 , the list of activities and suggested dates, as illustrated in
Alternatively, the charitable client user may also request that that the system automatically sends the communications without intervention. In such instance the system 250 would prompt the charitable client user to assign one of the templates described herein for each communication and then assign one or more electronic mail lists to the communication. At a predetermined number of days after the passing of the desired date, where the number of days is defined by the assistance server application 432, if certain database conditions which indicate that the step has taken place do not exist, the database will 1) populate a non-public web page that will send code to the CRM module 292 which will, in turn, create a service “case” or event in the CRM system that will alert the staff of system 250 to make contact with the charitable client user to assist him/her/them in completing the overdue task, typically by sending the customer an electronic mail offering assistance in completing the task.
FIGS. 6A-C illustrate conceptually the graphic user interface(s) 600, 602 and 604, respectively, and algorithmic processes associated with the processes of creating an auction event in accordance with the system 250 of the present invention. The components which comprise these user interface(s) are typically stored as objects or components which collectively comprise one of the templates to stored in database 432 and modifiable using template editor 294. These templates utilize the windowing functionality in the local operating system. For UNIX-based systems, X-windows functionality may be utilized. The record structure of these templates is described with reference to
FIGS. 7A-B are flowcharts of the algorithmic process utilized to create an auction event. These processes are typically performed with a charitable client process connected to system 250 and interacting with the web pages and templates as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-C. Referring to
Having created an auction object, the system 250 generates the list of activities and suggested dates, as illustrated in
Creating a Community
In addition to the finding the auction event using the templates and graphic user interfaces presented by system 250, the charitable client may also define the their constituency or community of potential donors for the auction event. FIGS. 8A-E illustrate conceptual graphic user interfaces of the web pages 800, 802, 804, 806, 808, 810, respectively, in accordance with the inventive system, as would be displayed to a charitable client who is utilizing the services of the inventive system. In
Community Builds Electronic Mail Lists
According to another aspect of the invention, system 250 enables a charitable organization to send an electronic mail based communication to their constituency (constituents) to ask for electronic mail referrals (contacts) or, alternately, to incorporate a ‘community email button’ on all web pages and communications that allows constituents to add contacts. A constituent selects a web link, either embedded in the email or as a result of clicking on the community email button, to transfer to a data entry page where a contacts' information (name, email, etc.) can be captured. The inventive system automatically generates a personalized electronic mail that includes the constituent name, to the submitted contact enabling the contact to opt-in to the nonprofit's email database. The contact may opt-in, at the discretion of the nonprofit, for different email communications (auction only, general communications, further fund-raising solicitations, etc.). After the contact has opted in, the system automatically informs, via electronic mail, the constituent that one of their contacts has opted in. The constituent, via a web-based ‘dashboard’, may view the status of each contact that they have submitted.
According to another aspect of the invention, once all of the objects that comprise an option have been created, the inventive system 250 allows a client process to replicate an auction including auction home page and templates that have been edited with links, logos, marketing information, banners, etc., resulting in a copy of the auction and all the associated pages, community lists, etc., but on a new URL, so that a new auction is created that can then be used as is or edited to customized for a particular event. Replication of the auction saves time, particularly for charitable organizations that have such a fund raising events are on a regular basis.
Creating and Building a Catalog
FIGS. 9A-D illustrate conceptually the graphic user interface(s) of web pages 900, 902 904, and 906, respectively, that a charitable client may utilize to create a catalog of items for an auction event, in accordance with the inventive system 250. In
The inventive system 250 enables a nonprofit or charitable client to request that their constituency donate items for an auction, either via electronic mail with an embedded link or through an embedded icon on a web page. The link embedded in the electronic mail or the embedded icon on the web page leads to a catalog item entry web page. If enabled by the charitable organization, the constituent can assign the item to a particular participant, cause, chapter, or organization for credit.
Donated items are queued for review within the inventive application that is restricted to viewing by auction committee members with correct permissions. Committee members can either accept, edit or reject items within the queue. When a committee member approves an item an automatic electronic mail notification is sent to the donating party. When a committee member edits an item an automatic electronic mail notification may be generated and sent to the donating party with the changes highlighted. Similarly, when a committee member rejects an item an automatic electronic mail is generated and sent to the donor with the reason for the disapproval. Upon approval, the item is added to the auction database and published to a database-served auction catalog based upon the ‘born on’ date or, if a ‘born on’ date is not present, the item may be published immediately. Donors can view a ‘personal page’ that lists the items that they have donated and their current status; in queue, accepted, rejected, and, if already accepted and in the auction process, the current bid status. When an item is sold an automatic electronic mail may be generated and sent to the donor with an IRS-acceptable donation receipt (electronic) attached. The above described process is set forth in greater detail with reference to
Referring to
In the illustrative embodiment, the data structures processed by the inventive algorithms described herein are implemented in an object-oriented format with data records implemented as objects having both data and methods, as applicable. Referring to
-
- uuid
- name
- alias
- description
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
In the illustrative embodiment, on-line auctions and combined on-line/live event auctions have Event Records 1700. In the illustrated embodiment, Event Record 1700 comprises the following variables:
-
- uuid
- organization_id
- name
- event_type
- chairperson
- description
- start_time
- finish_time
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
A Live Event record exist only for auctions which have a corresponding live event. The Live Event record, not shown in the figures, comprises the uuid, start_time, and finish_time variables similar to those described with reference to Event Record 1700. In addition, Live Event record comprises an event_id variable that identifies the corresponding Event Record 1700 to which the live event record corresponds.
Catalog details are maintained in the Catalog, Item, Donation and Benefactors records as described herein. One or more Catalog records 1704 can exist for each Event Record 1700. Multiple catalogs allow the separation of Online and Live Event items, if desired. In this manner, a different set of auction items may be available for an online auction event than those offered at a corresponding live auction event. In the illustrated embodiment, Catalog Record 1704 comprises the following variables:
-
- uuid
- organization_id
- event_id
- name
- description
- start_time
- finish_time
- points
- donation
- absentee_bidding
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
Item properties are stored in item records, with additional status and flags maintained in Item Status records, as illustrated. An Item Record 1706 exists for each item associated with a particular Catalog Record 1704 and has the form illustrated in
-
- uuid
- category_id
- catalog_id
- donation_id
- lot_number
- name
- description
- image
- reserve_price
- opening_bid
- bid_increment
- quantity
- buy_now_price
- buy_now_quantity
- est_value
- display_value
- cost
- start_time
- finish_time
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
In addition, the organization record has six methods associated therewith that can be used to call other records containing data values related to the item record. As illustrated in
An ItemStatus record 1712 exists for each item associated with a particular item record 1706 to maintain additional status and flags, as illustrated in
A Donation Record 1708 exists if an item has been donated by the auction constituency. In the illustrated embodiment, Donation Record 1708 comprises the following variables:
-
- uuid
- benefactor_id
- name
- logo
- link
- description
- donated_date
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
According to another aspect of the invention, a nonprofit or charitable organization is able to define dollar thresholds for the appearance of donor logos and links and have the process automated by system 250. If the Fair Market Value of the item being donated, meets one of the predefined threshold criteria, whether determines by the auction committee or by a community donor, the inventive system enables ‘add logo’ or ‘add link’ graphics to be displayed when a donor is entering the information in the donor web page. The donor may then include a logo and are linked to the donor's web site which will appear in the on-line catalog, similar to that illustrated in
In addition, the Donation Record 1708 has three methods associated therewith that can be used to call other records containing data values related to the item record. The +items( ) method can be used to call one or more items associated with the donor using the appropriate donor. The +getMainBenefactor( ) and +benefactors( ) methods can be used to call one or more benefactors associated with the donor using the appropriate donor data.
In the illustrative embodiment, an item may be donated by an organization or multiple donors. In such instances, benefactor records 1710 are used to track information related to the multiple benefactors which comprises the donating entity. Accordingly, one or more benefactor records 1710 may exist for a donation record and contain appropriate contact information. In addition, benefactor records exist for donated and sponsored items. More than one benefactor is possible, each accessible via an API. Specific contact information may be available via the API for each benefactor, including name, address, contact info, etc. In addition to contact information, logos and URLs may be maintained. In benefactor records 1710 the uuid variable serves as a primary key to identify a benefactor. The member_id variable identifies the auction member who will be the benefactor of the donation. The name, address, and phone variables describe the name, address and telephone information of the benefactor of the donation, respectively. The +getContactInfo( ) and +donation( ) methods can be used to access the donation record and the contact information of the benefactor.
In the illustrative embodiment, participants to an auction, whether as a bidder or as a donor of an item or other role, must first register with the auction as a member. On donation, a new member record is created if the donating member has not previously registered. For the donated item, the item, itemStatus, donation and benefactor records are created. Item properties are stored in item record, with additional status and flags maintained in Item Status records. On item donation, a limited number of properties are set in item and item status records. Specifically, required properties include item name, description, desired category, estimated value, and donor name. Optional properties can be specified, including special instructions and an item image. Optional donor properties may include donor link, donor logo, and donor description. Additional contact information, not accessible from member records, is available via the benefactor API. Contact information required to complete donation process.
Utilizing the process illustrated in
In the illustrative embodiment, items donated by the same member can span catalogs and organizations for any particular member. A donor page provides a single view across all catalogs to view donated items. On the member's donor page, donated items are grouped together within their relevant catalog. Donors can view a the list of items they have donated and their current status as pending, accepted, rejected, and, if already accepted and in the auction process, the current bid status.
Combining Catalog Entries
According to another aspect of the invention, once a catalog has been generated and a plurality of items donated, the inventive system 250 enables an auction committee member of a charitable organization to combine individual catalog items, either currently published or pending, into a single parent auction object that is an aggregate or composite auction item while still maintaining the integrity of the donor contribution the data of the individual components comprising parent item. For example, airfare, hotel, sightseeing items donated from various constituents can be combined into a single packaged offering having a fair market value and a starting bid which may be different than the fair market value and a starting bid of any of the individual component auction items within the parent item.
The above process can be better understood with reference to the specific object records involved and the relationship among such records in memory. In the illustrative embodiment, combined items are maintained via a parent item record and parent/child relationships with plural item records.
A Parent Item Record 2006A exists for each composite item associated with a particular Catalog Record 2004, and, for items which are part of a composite parent auction item, an Item Record 2006B exists, as illustrated in
-
- uuid
- category_id
- catalog_id
- donation_id
- lot_number
- name
- description
- image
- reserve_price
- opening_bid
- bid_increment
- quantity
- buy_now_price
- buy_now_quantity
- est_value
- display_value
- cost
- start_time
- finish_time
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
Combined items are maintained via parent/child relationships. For combined items, the Parent item is displayed in the catalog, with attributes being derived from each child item comprising the collection. The +isCombinedItem( ) method can be used to determine that whether the subject item is part of a combined item offering. If the subject item is a component or child item of a parent item combination, the +itemParent( ) method can be used to identify the parent item. If the subject item is a parent item combination, the +itemChildren( ) method can be used to identify the any children items.
Live Event record 2002 exist only for auctions which have a corresponding live event. Live Event record 2002 comprises the uuid, start_time, and finish_time variables similar to those described with reference to Event Record 2000. In addition, Live Event record 2002 comprises an event_id variable that identifies the corresponding Event Record 2000 to which the live event record corresponds.
-
- uuid
- name
- description
- html_path
- text_path
The nature of the data type used to implement the variable in record 2100 is illustrated in
In addition, the template record has at least a +documents( ) method which can be used to call up one more documents that have been created from the template record, using the appropriate documents identifier. A user customized document created following the selection of a template and population thereof with user-defined data is stored in one of the databases, as illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, document record 2102, comprises the following variables:
-
- uuid
- organization_id
- template_id
- name
- description
- email_from
- subject
The nature of the data type used to implement the variables in record 2102 is illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, text block record 2104 comprises the following variables:
-
- uuid
- document_id
- name
- mime_type
- content
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
In the illustrative embodiment, the web pages of an auction catalog or the homepage of the auction itself may have associated therewith one or more links to sponsors of the fundraising event. In the illustrated embodiment, sponsor block record 2106 comprises the following variables:
-
- uuid
- document_id
- name
- mime_type
- content
- sponsor_id
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
In
-
- uuid
- document_id
- name
- mime_type
- image_url
- height
- width
- label
- alt-tag
- href
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
In the illustrative embodiment, image block record 2110 comprises the following variables:
-
- uuid
- document_id
- mime_type
- image_url
- height
- width
- alt-tag
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
In
-
- uuid
- document_id
- mime_type
- item_id
- name
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
In the illustrative embodiment, catalog list block record 2114 comprises the following variables:
-
- uuid
- document_id
- mime_type
- catalog_id
- name
The nature of the data type used to implement each variable is illustrated in
The reader will appreciate that the inventive system of the present invention provides the tools and facilities for a nonprofit or charitable institution to create either a live or virtual auction event, compile lists of potential donor/bidder participants, create a catalog from donated items, combine individual donated items into aggregate item offerings, and facilitate on line viewing in bidding of the published catalog items in a manner that is efficient and capable of reaching the vast potential of the virtual online community for a particular cause.
Although the inventive concepts disclosed herein have been described with reference to implementations regarding auctions for nonprofit or charitable entities, the inventive concepts may equally apply to commercial or any other auction in which it is a desirable to combine multiple auction items. For example, in commercial auctions, the donor may correspond to a seller or seller(s) while the charitable entity, as well as the persons authorized to edit the auction items, may be from the same or separate business entities, such as auction hosting services, auction houses, or other online services.
Although the inventive concepts disclosed herein have been described with reference to implementations in an object-oriented environment, other programming techniques utilizing other data structures and memory configurations may be similarly utilize to achieve the same results as the inventive system described herein. For example, the record structures may be implemented other than as objects and the described databases may be implemented in different configurations, redundant, distributed, etc., while still achieving the same results.
The above-described invention may be implemented in either all software, all hardware, or a combination of hardware and software, including program code stored in firmware format to support dedicated hardware. A software implementation of the above described embodiment(s) may comprise a series of computer instructions either fixed on a tangible medium, such as a computer readable media, e.g. diskette 142, CD-ROM 147, ROM 115, or fixed disk 152 of
Although various exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made which will achieve some of the advantages of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art that other components performing the same functions may be suitably substituted. Further, the methods of the invention may be achieved in either all software implementations, using the appropriate processor instructions, or in hybrid implementations which utilize a combination of hardware logic and software logic to achieve the same results.
Claims
1. In a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, a method comprising:
- (A) maintaining an online accessible user-interface to a memory associated with a charitable auction;
- (B) receiving data describing an item to be donated through the online accessible user-interface; and
- (C) generating and sending a communication to a donor from which the data describing the item was received.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
- (D) adding the data describing the item to a database associated with the charitable auction.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
- (D) publishing the data describing the item in an auction catalog associated with the charitable auction.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein (A) further comprises:
- (A1) providing a link to the online accessible user-interface of the memory associated with a charitable auction.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein (A1) further comprises:
- (A1a) providing a selectable link to the online accessible user-interface in an electronic mail communication.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein (A1) further comprises:
- (A1a) providing a selectable link to the online accessible user-interface on a web page.
7. A computer program product for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having embodied therein program code comprising:
- (A) program code for maintaining an online accessible user-interface to a memory associated with a charitable auction;
- (B) program code for receiving data describing an item to be donated through the online accessible user-interface; and
- (C) program code for generating and sending a communication to a donor from which the data describing the item was received.
8. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:
- (D) program code for adding the data describing the item to a database associated with the charitable auction.
9. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:
- (D) program code for publishing the data describing the item in an auction catalog associated with the charitable auction.
10. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein (A) further comprises:
- (A1) program code for providing a link to the online accessible user-interface of the memory associated with a charitable auction.
11. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, the computer data signal comprising:
- (A) program code for maintaining an online accessible user-interface to a memory associated with a charitable auction;
- (B) program code for receiving data describing an item to be donated through the online accessible user-interface; and
- (C) program code for generating and sending a communication to a donor from which the data describing the item was received.
12. In a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, apparatus comprising:
- (A) program logic for maintaining an online accessible user-interface to a memory associated with a charitable auction;
- (B) program logic for receiving data describing an item to be donated through the online accessible user-interface; and
- (C) program logic for generating and sending a communication to a donor from which the data describing the auction item was received.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:
- (D) program logic for adding the data describing the item to a database associated with the charitable auction.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:
- (D) program logic for publishing the data describing the item in an auction catalog associated with the charitable auction.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein (A) further comprises:
- (A1) program logic for providing a link to the online accessible user-interface of the memory associated with a charitable auction.
16. In a computer usable memory, a data structure for tracking an item in a catalog associated with a charitable auction, the data structure comprising:
- (A) data identifying an item donated to a charitable auction;
- (B) data identifying the donor of the item;
- (C) data identifying the charitable auction with which the item is associated; and
- (D) data identifying a status state of the item in relation to the charitable auction.
17. The data structure of claim 16 wherein status state associated with identified item is selected from the group consisting of pending, accepted, released, closed, and published.
18. The data structure of claim 16 further comprising:
- (E) data identifying at least one entity to which credit for a value of the item will be given.
19. The data structure of claim 18 wherein entity to which credit for a value of the item will be given is selected from the group consisting of a participant, cause, chapter, and organization associated with the charitable auction.
20. The data structure of claim 16 further comprising:
- (E) data identifying an estimated fair market value of the item donated to a charitable auction;
21. The method of claim 1 wherein (B) further comprises:
- (B1) maintaining data identifying a status state of the item in relation to the charitable auction once received.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein status state associated with item is selected from the group consisting of pending, accepted, released, closed, and published.
23. In a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, a method comprising:
- (A) maintaining in a memory associated with a charitable auction data describing at least one item donated by a donor;
- (B) maintaining in the memory associated with the charitable auction data describing a status state associated with the at least one item donated by the donor; and
- (C) upon request of the first donor, displaying data describing all items donated by the donor to the charitable auction and data describing a status state associated with each item donated.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein status state associated with an identified item is selected from the group consisting of pending, accepted, released, closed, and published.
25. The method of claim 23 wherein (C) comprises:
- (C1) upon request of the donor, displaying data describing all items donated by the donor to a plurality of online charitable auctions and data describing a status value associated with each item donated.
26. A computer program product for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having embodied therein program code comprising:
- (A) program code for maintaining, in a memory associated with a charitable auction, data describing at least one item donated by a donor;
- (B) program code for maintaining, in the memory associated with the charitable auction, data describing a status state associated with the at least one item donated by the donor; and
- (C) program code for displaying, upon request of the donor, data describing items donated by the donor to the charitable auction and data describing a status state associated with each item donated.
27. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein (C) comprises:
- (C1) program code for displaying, upon request of the donor, data describing items donated by the donor to a plurality of online charitable auctions and any data describing a status state associated with each item donated.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 29, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 14, 2005
Applicant: cMarket, Inc. (Cambridge, MA)
Inventors: Gregory McHale (Melrose, MA), Carl Maib (Dracut, MA)
Application Number: 10/953,034